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Mr. Alfred North,



through a regular set of quadrille flying in fancy figures, one might

almost say, to and fro between the two trees.


In the aviaries one meets, of course, often with incidents

which make one wonder, do birds really think normally at times ?

I remember a pair of Red-collared Whydahs breeding with me. The

nest, a hanging one, similar to the Weaver nests, had such a flimsy

bottom that one could count the eggs from a distance. As I

anticipated, they slipped through one day and were broken. The

birds set to work and strengthened the bottom of the nest in such

a way that all accidents were obviated. Indeed, they raised several

broods in the same nest. At the present time I have a pair of

Peach-faced Love-birds breeding, They chose in the first instance

a box, laid, and hatched some young; then heavy rains set in,

causing the top of the box to leak. They at once arched the nest

inside the box most cunningly, but failed to rear the young. This

time they built in a hollow log, but, as the log is very exposed and

slanting, they built a sort of breakwater half-way above the nest and

entrance — all most intelligently devised and executed. In spite of

the bleak winds and heavy rains of late, the young (three of them)

are doing well, and I hope to rear them, thanks to the ingenuity of

their parents.



SONGSTERS OF NEW SOUTH WALES.*


By Alfred North, C.M.Z.S.


Ornithologist to the Australian Museum, Sydney.


The Order Passeres contains nearly all the birds noted for

their song or other musical powers, a few only of which can be

noticed here. For richness and volume of sound, the different species

of Lyre-bird must be placed first among the birds of New T South

Wales. To hear a fine old adult male Menura sujierba, or M. victories,

especially before he has left his roosting-place near the top of some

blackwood or sassafras growing in a secluded gully, pour forth his

melodious and varied natural notes to usher in the daw ? n of day, is an

experience never to be forgotten. In addition to possessing in the


* [Reprinted from the ‘ New South Wales Handbook,’ British Association Visit.]



